OAKLAND, Calif. — Riding a three-game win streak and coming out of the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Angels are set to face the Oakland Athletics, a team they’re .500 against this year.
Ahead of the series, Oakland (37-61) called up top prospect and 2023 No. 6 overall pick Jacob Wilson, who happens to be from Thousand Oaks, not far from Angel Stadium.
Angels (41-55) manager Ron Washington spoke before the first game of the series, regarding updates on outfielder Mike Trout and third baseman Luis Rengifo's injuries, catcher Logan O’Hoppe’s absence and playing at the Oakland Coliseum for one final time before the A’s scheduled relocation.
Updates on Rengifo, Trout
The injury bug has plagued the Angels all season, but heading out of the All-Star break the team will hope for key players to make timely returns.
Rengifo, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 5 with a right wrist injury, is back performing baseball duties.
“He took ground balls today, he threw well, he went to the cage, took some swings off the tee,” Washington said.
With a team-leading .315 batting average and .358 on-base percentage, Los Angeles could use a consistent player like Rengifo back in the lineup to set the tone for the second half and go on a run.
Trout, who has been absent since April 29 with a knee injury, will head to Arizona for live hitting and eventually start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake.
“We're not concerned about the hitting part of it,” said Washington regarding Trout’s recovery. “He knows how to hit.”
With a predominantly young lineup and a losing record, Los Angeles will make the most out of the second half despite injury woes.
O’Hoppe not in lineup
O’Hoppe was left out of the Angels’ starting lineup ahead of Friday’s game, but not because of injury concerns. The 24-year-old dealt with abrupt flight issues ahead of the series, causing his delayed entrance to the Oakland Coliseum.
“When I heard he got locked up, I just didn't put him in the lineup,” Washington said. “That’s just too much … If I need him later on in the game, I have him."
Amid the ongoing technology outages that have affected many airlines, O’Hoppe might not be the only player across the league to arrive late to the ballpark.
Last trip to Oakland
Although the Angels will face the A’s again on July 25-28, the series will be in Anaheim. Friday will mark the start of Los Angeles’ last visit to the Oakland Coliseum before the A’s move to Sacramento and eventually Las Vegas.
Washington, who had previously coached with Oakland across two stints, reflected on the team’s relocation and the Oakland Coliseum’s sentimental impact.
“This stadium means a lot to the fans,” Washington said. “I was a part of a group that won 20 straight ball games here.”
Washington also praised the fans that have stuck with the A’s amid the relocation saga.
“I just feel sorry for the fans,” Washington said. “They say they don't get a whole lot of fans here, but the 10,000 that they get every night, they’re loud."
Griffin Canning (3-9, 4.84 ERA) will take the mound against JP Sears (6-7, 4.56 ERA) on Friday.
Oakland fans will hope to see Wilson’s potential translate over to the majors, as he slashed .438/.475/.686 with seven home runs in the minor leagues this season. His highly anticipated debut will commence at 6:40 p.m. to officially start the second half of the season.